Minnesota DNR Proposes to Add Moose on Endangered Species List

By
KBJR News 1

Credit: MN DNR

Minnesota DNR Proposes to Add Moose on Endangered Species List

December 11, 2012Updated Dec 11, 2012 at 12:48 PM CST

St. Paul, MN (NNCNOW.com) --- Last year may have seen the gray wolf taken off the list of endangered species, but now in its place, Minnesota DNR officials are trying to put the moose on the list of special concerned species.

Back in 2006, moose populations were estimated at 8, 840. In just 6 years, the moose population was cut in half.

Recently, the population dropped by about 700 from 2011 according to a DNR survey released earlier this year.

The proposal to put moose on the special concerned species list is part of a newly proposed list of changes to the endangered species list presented by DNR officials.

The DNR is proposing to remove 15 plants and 14 animals from Minnesota’s list of endangered, threatened and special concern species, while adding 67 animals and 114 plants to the list.

Overall, the changes will affect 302 species.

“The ultimate goal of putting a plant or animal on the list isn’t to put up walls around it; it’s to find ways to get it back off the list,” said Rich Baker, DNR endangered species coordinator. “There are plenty examples of that happening. It doesn’t have to come at the expense of economic growth and prosperity.”

DNR officials also say that many of the proposed changes arise out of new information compiled from field surveys and other sources.

The DNR will be holding public comment periods concerning the changes to the endangered species list. All hearings will be at 6pm: